Dont Die Young by Alice Roberts

Dont Die Young Reviews

• 
  Marco

  Don't Die Young: An Anatomist's Guide to Your Organs and Your Health by Dr. Alice Roberts is a very refreshing read. It is highly accessible to the public, but it is also detailed and thorough enough to pique the interest of the A Level student!
  
  Equipped with a dash of wit, an ounce of humour and a tonne of knowledge, Dr Alice Roberts sets out to debunk myths and help improve public health.
  
  And she does this quite elegantly by looking at it from her point of view. Dr Alice Roberts is an anatomist - she studies the human body - and from her point of view, the best way of educating people about how not to "die young," is by telling us about our organs and how to treat them as best as we can.
  
  Looking at the lungs, the heart, the stomach and intestines, the liver, the pancreas, the kidneys and bladder, the reproductive organs, the brain, the eye, the skin and the body as a whole, Dr Roberts takes us on a wild rollercoaster, whistlestop tour around the human body.
  
  With lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, some cancers and type II diabetes on the rise, there is no better time to learn more about our body and how to keep it in good condition! And as most lifestyle diseases are preventable, Dr Roberts ends each chapter by discussing how to keep our organs healthy.
  
  
  Although the introduction does not bode well for the layperson (in fact, it reads just like an A Level Biology text book!), the rest of the chapters are incredibly accessible. And this is not to say that the book isn't informative.
  
  This fascinating book packs in a lot of information, and presents in in a fascinating way, touring us around the body's organs and debunking myths about alternative therapies and all the while, her narrating voice is still very much present.
  
  Roberts introduces the main organs one-by-one and talks about what they are, what they do and how to prevent common problems that occur in the organs. She always tries to add in humour and makes sure that the content is relevant to the reader and is something that the reader can relate to. She also gives factoids about her life, such as about her father having surgery to correct pyloric stenosis (having a narrow pylorus, the part of the stomach that connects it to the small intestine).
  
  From early on in the book, she is authoritative and witty and establishes a great rapport with the reader. Of course, her extensive knowledge makes sure that you learn something new on every page of this book. At the end of the book, after her rant lecture about alternative medicine, she also gives a list of further reading (of reputable sources, of course!).
  
  Diagrams and photographs also cover the book and help to make this book so much more entertaining. Oh and my favourite thing about the book? There's a little picture of a skeleton on most pages that is holding up an organ related to the chapter. And in the reproductive organs chapter, the skeleton is holding a penis and testicles on one hand, and ovaries and a uterus in another... with a grin on its face! How grim!
  
  I would recommend this to book to everybody. Seriously, go and read this book! It is also an excellent introduction to the human body, and Biology students would no doubt appreciate this book. This contains such precious knowledge for everyone, and it will no doubt help us not to die young.
  
  Definitely 5 out of 5!
• 
  Sian Bradshaw

  This is an interesting book and well-written, but it didn't really grab me. The graphics are good and the messages well summarised.
• 
  Paige

  I read and enjoyed Alice Roberts' companion book to the BBC's The Incredible Human Journey last year and got a lot out of it, so who better to teach me anatomy?
  
  Yes, I read a lot of BBC tie-in books without watching the progs...
• 
  Grania

  Lots of photos, clear illustrations and straight-talking text. And some really cute wee skeletons. It's a lovingly produced book, even though it is to accompany a TV show.
• 
  Philip

  Great guide to anatomy, written by someone who really knows their stuff. Read this whilst on holiday and the added guilt is a bonus.